Shearing-machine



(No-Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. A. BERTSGH. SHEARING MACHINE.

No. 438,222. Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

A fbm W W ttornfiy Witne ses:

2 t e e. h S m e e h S 2 Hm I ME 0 A RM G N M AA m 8 m d 0 M o WPatented Oct. 14, 1890,

. Inventor x WWW- WQiinesses:

Attorney NITED STATES much.

SHEARING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,222, dated October14, 1890.

' 'Applioati0n filed February 6, 1890- gerial No. 339,488. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. Bnnrscn, of Cambridge City, \Vaynecounty, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShearing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to that class of metal-shearing machinesinvolving a horizontal table carrying a fixed shear-blade and avertically-moving stock or gate carrying a movable shear-blade, suchmachines being often spoken of as squaring-shears. My improved machineis adapted for the working of squaring, trimming, slitting, 850.

My improvements will be readily understood from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 isaside elevation of a machine exemplifying myimprovements; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 8, a plan ofthe same; Fig. 4, a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 5, a verticaltransverse section of the same; Fig. 6, an elevation, upon an enlargedscale, of the extension-table O as that extension-table would appear inFig. l were it not omitted from that figure; Fig. 7, an enlarged frontelevation corresponding in direction of view with Fig. 2 of theright-hand portion of the main table, and exhibiting the squaring-gageN; and Fig. 8, an end elevation corresponding in direction of view withFig. 1 of certain end portions of the machine, but exhibiting amodification in the method of connecting the gapblocks with the stock.

In the drawings,omitting Fig.8 from present consideration, A indicatesthe ordinary end housings of the machine; B, the usual table supportedby the front of the housings, the housings being horizontally slottedupon the same general level with the table, so that wide sheets of metalsupported by the table may be passed endwise through the machine; C, thelower shear-blade, the same being rigidly attached to and forming therear edge of the table; D, the vertically-movin g shear-stock fitted formovement in suitable guides in the housings, this stock consisting of amassive bar extending across the machine from housing to housing; E, theupper shear-blade, the same being attached to the lower edge of theshear-stock and arranged to act in conj unction with the fixed blade,which is secured to the rear edge of the table, the upper shearbladebeing arranged, as is usual, at a greater or less shearing angle, oneend of this blade being set very much lower than the other end, so thatthe shearing action is a progressive one along the length of the blades;F, a foottreadle pivoted at the base of the machine and extendingforwardly, so as to be conveniently reached by the operators foot as hestands at the front of the machine; G, links reaching from the treadleat each end of the machine upwardly toward the shear-stock D, the lowerpoints of connection of the links being disposed vertically below theshear-stock; H, gap-blocks connected with the ends of the links G andserving to furnish a connection and means of transmission of motionbetween the links and the stock, these gap-blocks having the form of aletter U, with its closed portion disposed to the rear; J, a hand-shaftjournal ed in the housings over the shear-stock K, a cam near each endof said shaft and engaging directly over the shear-stock; L, ahand-lever attached to the shaft; M, an extension-piece pivoted to thefront of the treadle and adapted to be normally turned back upon thetreadle out of the way and arranged tobe swung forward when necessary,as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to project forward of thegeneral treadle and form a frontal extension thereof; N, anupwardly-projecting gage-rib secured to the upper surface of the table Bexactly at right angles to the line of cut of the shear-blades, this ribhaving a crosssection slightly tapering at its lower edge and engaging acorresponding groove formedin the table; 0, an extension-table at thelefthand end of the machine, the left hand of the machine being assumedas that portion which appears at the left of the front view found inFig. 2, this extension-table being formed as a prolongation of the maintable beyond the left-hand housing and formed,preferably,with

a hinged juncture thereto, so that this extension may be lowered out ofthe way when'desired; P, a similar extension-table, similarly formed atthe right of the machine; Q, a gageledge formed at the rear of theextension P and projecting above the same, the front face of thisgage-ledge coinciding exactly with the cutting-lines of the shear-bladesand the inner end of the ledge being disposed some distance outwardlyfrom the end of the shear-blades, the lower edge of this gage-ledgebeing disposed but a short distance below the upper surface of theextension -table of which it forms a part; R, a sliding gage supportedby the extension-table O and disposed with its face parallel With theline of cut of the shearblade and adjustable a greater or less distanceto the rear of that line; S, a point-gage illustrated as supported bythis sliding gage, the point of this gage projecting downwardly to nearthe level of the table, this gage being formed, preferably, of a rodsupported in an eye in the sliding gage and secured adj ustably thereinby a set-screw and having a downwardly-turned gage-point at its forwardend; T, (see Fig. 3,) a gage-line formed upon the extension-table O inline of cut of the shearblades; U, asimilar line a trifle to the rear ofline T; V, a back gage disposed adj ustably to the rear of theshear-blades and projecting above the surface of the table; W, a pair ofbrackets extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table andserving as a support for the gage V, which attaches 'to them, in theordinary manner, by means of bolts engaging slots in the brackets, asusual, and X a similar pair of brackets attached to the rear of theshear-stock D.

By inspecting Fig. 1 it will be noticed that a depressing motion of thetreadle will result in a downward movement of the links G, and

' it will be obvious that if the upper ends of medium of pivoted arms.

those links were attached directly to the shearstock then the effectwould be to produce a downward movement of the shear-stock and uppershear-blade; but it is often desirable to employ these machines in theslitting of wide sheets of greater length than the machine, or to passthe sheets endwise to the shears. Links passing directly upward to theshear-stock would obviously interfere with such employment of themachine. It has therefore become customary to construct such machineswith gaps in the housings, and to transfer motion from the treadle orother power device to the shear-stock through the pivoted arms, I employthe gap-blocks H. These blocks are U-shaped structures, so as not tointerfere with the passage of the sheets, and the forward extremities ofthe blocks are attached to the shear-stock and to, the upper ends of thelinks. The downward movement of the links results in the direct downwardtransmission of the motion to the shear-stock. Owing to the extremerearwardly overhanging of the gap-blocks H, some means must be providedto prevent theimproper dropping of the rear portion of their bodies.From Fig. 1 it will be understood that if the gap-block H be unsupportedits left portion will drop and throw the upper end of the link forward.This may be guarded against by any suitable support for the gap-block.As, for instance, the

pin at the upper end of the link may move in Instead of such a verticalguideway, as at a; or any portion of the gap-block may thus have aguidingsupport, which will prevent the disorganization referred to. Thesupport may be disposed at b, if desired. The upper forward-extremity ofthe gap-block may be attached in any desired manner to the shear-stock,as by pin or knuckle, as indicated in Fig. 1, or by tension-link, asillustrated in Fig. 8.

My present invention contemplates any manner of support to prevent theimproper dropping of the overhanging rear portion of the gap-blocks.

For machines to be employed in light work the foot-treadle will answeras the means for applying the power; but of course for very heavy workor verylarge machines the usual cam-shaft, revolving by power, may beused to create the downward pull upon the links; but even with thetreadle-machines it sometimes becomes desirable to operate the machinesby hand-levers, it being quite common to provide a hand camshaft forsuch purposes. In the present case the hand-lever L is to be thusemployed, the cams K on its shaft engaging directly over theshear-stock. I sometimes introduce anti-friction rollers on theshear-stock where it is engaged by these cams.

The cross-gage N is only used where squaring is to be done. It isremovable from the table and is held therein by the engagement of itstapered foot with the tapered groove in the table. The taper of thegroove should be very little and the gage-rib should so fit the taper asnever to engage the floor of the groove. This will always insure aproper binding fit, which will retain the gage in place and at the sametime permit its ready removal.

Referring now to Fig. 5, attention is called to the rear gage V. ThlSgage, supported on the lower brackets W, is to be used in the ordinarymanner in regulating the width of pieces to be sheared from sheets. Thegage is to be adjusted back and forth on its brackets WV to suit thedesired width, and the gagewall projects above the general level of thetable, so that a sheet laid on the table and pushed to the rear willstrike against the gage; but by inspecting Fig. 5 it will be noticedthat there is a limit to the narrowness of the work that can be donewith the gage V thus used. If the gage be adjusted forward near to thelower shear-blade, then the shear-stock in its descent will strike thegage. I therefore provide the upper brackets X, attached directly to theshear-stock, which brackets are to be employed when the gage is to beset very close to the cut. The gage is simply removed from the bracketsW, turned end for end and upside down and bolted in desired position tothe brackets X. These brackets set low down on the shear-stock andpermit the adjustment of the gage close to the shearing-line; but theupper shear-blade and the lower edge of the shear-stock are on anincline and the setting of the brackets X at the lower ITS edge of theshear-stock necessarily results in the two brackets X being on differentlevels, as indicated in Fig. 4. The gage Vis so cons'tructed as to belevel when attached to the two brackets X, the gage having a horizontaloifset, as clearly shown. In order to have the same gage set upon thebrackets WV, I arrange the two brackets WV upon differentlevel's, thesame as brackets X, the offset-gage V thus fitting either pair ofbrackets.

Referring to Fig. 3, attention is called to the table-extension O. Thisextension may be formed rigid with the main table B, or it may form adrop-leaf extension, as illustrated. It extends outwardly to the leftbeyond the left housing of the machine and it extends to the rear of thecutting-line of the shearblades. It thus serves to support sheets fedendwise into the machine to be slitted. It is to be understood that thisextension is at that end of the machine corresponding with the high endof the upper shear-blade. Upon the upper surface of this extension thereis provided a mark T, corresponding exactly with the cutting-line of theshear-blades. This mark may be employed in adjusting long work forcertain kinds of trimming. At the opposite end of the machine the uppershearblade will set so low as to serve as a guide in adjusting thesheet; but at the high end of the upper shear-blade the shear-bladeitself can furnish no guide. In many cases a mere trifle of metal is tobe trimmed from the edge of the long sheet, in which case the edge ofthe sheet would cover and hide the mark T. I therefore provide a secondtrimming-mark U, parallel with and slightly to the rear of the mark T,which second mark may serve as a guide-line during the trimmingoperation.

For long slitting the gage R may be employed in an obvious manner. Forslitting to a line the'point-gage S will be found of great value, thispoint-gage being taken as one guide, while the eXtreme opposite end ofthe upper shear-blade is used as the other guide. This point-gage S neednot be attached in the particular manner indicated. It is only essentialthat it be supported above the level of the table, but near the tableand at a point endwise beyond the housing which is located at the highend of the upper shearblade.

Sometimes eXtra-wide sheets prevent access to the treadle, and sometimesadditional power is wanted in an emergency. In such cases thetreadle-ex'tension M is to be turned forward, as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. l.

The table-extension P has preferably the drop-leaf form, as indicated inthe drawings. Its gage-ledge Q serves as a slitting-gage, the rearportion of the slit sheet being pressed down by the descending uppershear-blade and passing under the lower edge of that gage-ledge. Thepassage of the rear slit of the sheet being cut will be understood fromFig. 4, 9 representing the front slit of the sheet as it passes over thetop of the table-exdinarily be interfered with by the gage-ledge,

tension P and in front of the gage ledge The rear slit h of the sheet,which would oris naturally depressed by the action of the topshear-blade, and the resulting downward curve of the rear slit inconjunction with the distant position of the inner end of the gageledgecauses the rear slit of the sheet to pass to the rear of thetable-extension? and under the lower edge of the gage-ledge Q. The

slits of metal are shown in this figure only for the purpose of showinghow the rear slit passes the gage-ledge Q, and the metal being cut isnot illustrated inwardly beyond the' housing, as such illustration wouldobscure other work. i

I claim as my invention 1. In a shearing-machine, the combination,substantially as set forth, of a table, a shear-' blade fixed thereto, ashear-stock, a shear blade attached to the shear-stock, a link disposedvertically below each end of the shearstock, power mechanism, as atreadle, connected with the lower ends of said links, a gap-block ateach end of the shear-stock, connected with the shear-stock and with theupper ends of said links and with their bodies overhanging rearwardly,and supports to prevent the improper tipping of said overhanginggap-blocks.

2. In a shearing-machine, the combination,

substantially as set forth, of a frame, a shearstock, a shear-bladesecured to said stock, a table supported by said frame and provided witha transverse groove of tapering crosssection, a shear-blade fixed tosaid table, and a gage-rib projecting above said table and fitting saidtransverse groove and standing clear of the floor of said groove.

3. In a shearing-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth,of a frame, a stock provided with a shear-blade, a table provided with ashear-blade, a pair of gage-brackets projecting rearwardly from saidstock and disposed at different levels, a pair of gage-bracketsprojecting from the rear of the table and disposed at different levelscorresponding with the difference of levels of the first-mentionedgage-brackets, and an offset gage adapted to engage either of said pairsof brackets.

4. In a shearing-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth,of a pair of housings, a table supported thereby and provided with ashear-blade, a vertically-reciprocating shear-stock, a shear-bladesecured thereto and arranged with one end higher than the other end, andan extension to said table at the end corresponding with the high end ofsaid shearstock blade, said table-extension projecting ICO outwardlybeyond the housing nearest thereto and rearwardly beyond thecutting-line of one end higher than the other, and an extension of saidtable at the high end of the stockblade, said tableextension projectingoutwardly beyond the nearest housing and to the rear of the cutting-lineof said shear-blades and having on its upper surface one or moregage-marks parallel with said cutting-line.

6. In a shearing-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth,of a pair of housings, a table, a stock, a shear-blade on the table, ashear-blade on the stock arranged with one end higher than the other, anextension of said table outwardly beyond the housing at the high end ofsaid stock-blade, and an adjustable gage on said table-extension to therear of the cutting-line of the shear-blades and parallel therewith.

'7. In a shearing-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth,of a frame, a table, a shear-blade at the rear edge thereof, astock, ashear-blade thereon, a treadle below the table and connected with saidstock, and an extension to said treadle adapted to project forwardthereof and to be turned back thereon.

8. In a shearing-machine, the combination,

end higher than the other, an extension of the table beyond the housingat the lower end of' said stock-blade with its rear edge in thecutting-line of the shear-blades, and a gage-ledge projecting above andbelow the upper surface of said table-extension and having its inner enddisposed outwardly so far beyond the end of the shear-blades that thebent cutting will pass under said ledge.

CHARLES A, BERTSOH. WVitnesses:

JOHN J. BERTSCH, W. F. MEDSKER.

